- fallout
- fallout fallout n.
1. the radioactive particles that settle to the ground after
a nuclear explosion.
Syn: radioactive dust, radioactive fallout. [WordNet 1.5]
2. the falling to the ground of radioactive particles lifted into the atmosphere by a nuclear explosion. [PJC]
3. an incidental or unexpected effect, especially one which is undesirable, consequent to an event or process;; -- usually used only in the singular; as, the fallout from the disclosure of the Lewinsky tapes made trouble for the President for months after the event; fallout from the stock market crash caused property prices to decline in the New York area. [PJC]
4. (Med.) one selected from a group by some criterion. [cant] [PJC]
Corrective action was taken in 97 of the 418 --fallouts from 3,787 patients at risk. --H. Gill Cryer et al. (Journal of Trauma, Injury, Infection, and Critical Care. Vol 41, no. 3, 1996). [PJC]
5. one who fails to maintain the same pace as and lags behind a group of which s/he is a member. [cant] [PJC]
The executive officer's group noted all --fallouts by name and policed them into a group to complete the run at a slower pace. --Lt. Col. William C. David (Preparing a Battalion for Combat: Physical Fitness and Mental Toughness. Army University After Next - Virtual Research Library). [PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
